Toy figure or the like



Jan. 31, 1939.

H. M. RUNDLE 2,145,6W

TOY FIGURE OR THE LIKE Filed Sept. 15, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l HENRY M. Pun/0L5 INVENTOR Jan. 31, 1939. H. M'. RUNDLE TOY FIGURE OR THE LIKE Filed Sept. 13; 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HENRY M Rumpus INVENTOR AT 1i Patented Jan. 31, 1939 UNITED STATES rustle PATENT OFFHCE 5 Claims.

The invention herein disclosed relates to selfsupporting silhouette figures of the type covered in the Bundle Patent No. 1,969,039 of August 7th, 1934.

Special objects of the present invention are to simplify the operations of setting up or folding the figure, to make the figure fold into smaller dimensions, to reduce the initial cost and, generally, to improve the figure as disclosed in the patent identified and to make it more practical and desirable for advertising, display, amusement, educational and other purposes.

Various other objects and the novel features of construction, combinations and relations of parts by which the objects are attained will appear and are set forth in the following specification.

The drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification illustrate a number of different practical embodiments of the invention. The structure, however, may be further modified, within the true intent of the invention, as will be apparent from the scope of the claims.

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a manikin figure embodying the invention showing in dotted lines the manner of folding the feet and base portions of the device.

Figure 2 is a side view of the same article.

Figure 3 is a broken plan of the foldable base and feet portions of the article.

Figures 4 and 5 are broken perspective and plan views respectively of the base portion of a modified form of the invention.

Figure 6 is a broken perspective View of another embodiment; and

Figures 7 and 8 are broken front and edge views showing the base in folded condition.

Figures 9, 10 and 11 are views similar to Figures 6, '7 and 8 of another embodiment.

Figure 12 is a side elevation of a further variation of the construction.

The figure consists, as in the patent mentioned, of a body portion 1 and leg parts 8, 9, with the latter joined to the body and first leg part on a hinging or bending line l0 inclined on an upward and outward slant to the general axis of the figure, to produce a stepping out effect when the parts are secured in spaced relation on a base.

In the first form of the invention, Figures 1 to 3, the front, left leg part B is hingedly connected at H with a portion l2 hinged at l3 to the base It and adapted to hinge forwardly over the base as in Figure 1. In this forwardly folded over-standing relation the part I2 may be secured by a dovetail tongue 15 bent up from the base through a correspondingly shaped opening IS in the overstanding part l2.

The rearward, right leg part 9 is shown as hingedly connected on a line H with a portion l8 hingedly connected with the base on a line L! in line with and forming in effect a continuation of the hinge line i3 by which part 52 is connected with the base. The coincidence of these two hinging lines l3, !9 enables the base to be folded up over the leg parts substantially as indicated in the broken lines Figure 3.

The base l4 and the rearwardly extended hinged base portion I8 may have suitable representations of feet 20, 2|, such as indicated, to accord with the leg portions when the figure is stood up as in the first view.

To hold the hingedly related base portions M, IS in the fiat extended condition indicated in Figure 1, one base part such as l8 may carry a locking rib or flange 22 hinged thereon at 23 and having a portion 24 extending across the hinge line l9 so as to overstand the other base portion, I 4, when said flange is turned up into the looking position indicated in Figure 1.

With the base part I 4 folded up over the leg portions as shown in the broken lines, Figures 1 and 3, the figure does not take up too much room for ordinary shipping purposes and this over-folded base protects the parts in shipment. To unfold and set up the figure, the base part I4 is simply folded downward and the legs separated to fold the foot portion E2 of the front leg forwardly over the base part M and the foot portion l8 of the rearward leg backwardly away from the common hinge line l3, l9. Then upon turning the flange 22 upwardly and possibly bending the forward end 24 of thesame over the front base portion 14, the two base portions will be locked in the fiat condition. Prior to this operation the front foot portion l2 may be secured by turning up the locking lug I5 through opening I 6.

It will be noted that the hinge lines H, H for the foot portions [2, I 8 at the base of the leg parts are out of line, making the rearward right leg 9 slightly longer to serve as a brace for firmly supporting the figure in the rearwardly inclined relation indicated in Figure 2. Also, these hinge lines H, Il may be somewhat out of parallel, as indicated, so as to twist and stiffen these parts as they are separated in opposite directions.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate another embodiment in which the leg portions are integrally connected with the base, but in this particular form, the base part Ma is a single continuous element instead of in effect being broken up into two hingedly related parts such as M and It in Figure 1. In such construction the rearward leg 9 is directly hinged at Ila. to the rearward edge portion of the base Ma and the foot portion l2 of the front leg member 8 is cut at 25 out of the rearward portion of the base.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8, the base consists of two hingedly connected portions Hi, [8 with the rearward leg 9 hingedly connected at l'n' to the rearward base or foot portion 18, but in this particular illustration, the foot portion lZa of the front leg 8 is glued down or permanently attached over the base part I4 so that the base parts l4, It will fold downwardly along the hinge line l9, as shown particularly in Figures 7 and 8.

This construction can be set up by simply separating the leg portions 8, 9 as in Figure 6 which automatically spreads the base parts [4, i8, which can then be locked in such flattened relation by turning up the locking flange 22a cut from the two base parts and extending across the hinging line 19. This flange has an intermediate hinging line I960 which permits it to fold with the base parts, but when turned up into the angled position, Figure 6, the flange will itself be positioned against folding on line l9a.

The construction illustrated in Figures 9, 10 and 11 is generally similar to the last described, except that the forward leg member is completely detached from the back edge of the base at 26 with a short forwardly hinged smaller foot portion 1221- brought forward and glued or other wise fastened down in an advanced location over the front base section I 4. In this construction the two base parts l4, is will fold upwardly on the hinge line between the two leg members, instead of downwardly, as in the preceding form, reducing the overall dimensions of the folded figure to some extent. In this form also the base is spread out in the supporting position by simply separating the legs, after which. the locking flange 22a can be turned up to hold the base members in the flattened relation. While generally preferable to construct the entire figure, including the base, all of one piece of sheet material as heretofore described, in some circumstances it may be desirable as for the larger size figures, to make the article of two or more parts, combined and ar ranged to brace and strengthen. the structure.

For example, as shown in Figure 12, the body and front leg portions 1, 8a may be made in one piece and the rear leg 9a, and folding base Hi, it be made in another piece, attached to the first by a body bracing extension 21 glued or cemented over the back of the true body portion la. This bracing attachment portion 21 is shown as having a vertically extending flange 28 at one edge for further stiffening the body and front leg portions. The front leg member in this case is shown as secured to the front base portion by the hinged foot part l2b glued down over said base portion in a manner similar to the Figure 9 construction so that the base may hinge up between the leg members and so that the figure can be completely set up by simply separating the leg members as in Figure 9.

The making of the rearward leg as a separate portion permits a greater choice of materials; for example, this leg which in effect forms a brace for supporting the front portions of the figure may be of heavier or stiffer material than the front portion and if integral with the base, such base would then be of heavier material than the front portion. The base, however, need not be integral with the back member 9a and might in fact be integral with the front member or actually be a separate third piece hingedly con nected with both leg members The portion 21 overlying the back of the front member and by which the back member is attached to said front member may be of any desired shape or extent for purposes of bracing and reinforcing the front body and leg members and may be entirely concealed behind the front member or for some purposes be extended beyond the edges of the front member so as to appear from the front as special parts of the figure.

The article may be made of many different kinds of sheet material, such as paper, cardboard, metal, wood or the like. The hinge lines such as I I, I3, i'l, l9 may be formed by scoring, creasing or the equivalent; and the parts may be printed, painted or otherwise dressed up to create the desired appearance and effect. The fi ure may be made up to represent various ln'nds of toys, animals, etc., and be used for display, advertising and many other purposes. The construction is relatively inexpensive and the figure can be immediately set up, even by anyone who has never seen the article before, by simply hinging the legs apart and which has the effect of spreading the base to which the foot portions of the legs are attached or form parts of the same.

What is claimed is:

1. A figure of sheet material comprising forwardly and rearwardly angled leg members, a flat base, said rearward leg member having a hinging connection with the rearward edge portion of said flat base and said forwardly angled leg member having a foot portion hinged at one end to the bottom of said leg member and hinged at the opposite end to the base in position to fold out over the upper surface of the base to automatically step said leg member forwardly as said foot member is hinged forwardly into position over the base.

2. A figure of sheet material comprising forwardly and rearwardly angled leg members, a flat base, said rearward leg member having a hinging connection with the rearward edge portion of said flat base and said forwardly angled leg member having a foot portion hinged at one end to the bottom of said leg member and hinged at the opposite end to the base in position to fold out over the upper surface of the base and said base having a hinging line substantially coinciding with the hinge line by which said foot member is connected with the base.

3. A figure in simulation of a man or other animate object and comprising sheet material cut out in the silhouette of a body and front leg, 2. second member of sheet material cut out in the silhouette of a rearward leg hingedly connected at the upper end with said body, said rearward leg being of greater length than said front leg, a folding base of sheet material, hingedly connected with both legs, the lower end of said rearward longer leg being hingedly connected with the back of said folding base, the lower end of the front leg being hinged over the forward-portion of said base, said base having an intermediate hinge line between the two leg members and said hinging lines being disposed to automatically flatten out the base and set up the figure on the base with the front leg stepped forward, the body inclined rearward and the back leg bracing the connected figure and base in such relation by simply hinging the legs so connected with the base to step the front leg out in advance of the back leg.

4. A figure in simulation of a man or other animate object and comprising sheet material cut out in the silhouette of a body and front leg, a second member of sheet material cut out in the silhouette of a rearward leg hingedly connected at the upper end with said body, said rearward leg being of greater length than said front leg, a folding base of sheet material, hingedly connected with both legs, the lower end of said rearward longer leg being hingedly connected with the back of said folding base, the lower end of the front leg being hinged over the forward portion of said base, said base having an intermediate hinge line between the two leg members and said hinging lines being disposed to automatically flatten out the base and set up the figure on the base with the front leg stepped forward, the body inclined rearward and the back leg bracing the connected figure and base in such relation by simply hinging the legs so connected with the base to step the front leg out in advance of the back leg, the hinge lines by which the lower ends of the leg members are connected with the base being out of line and out of parallel.

5. A figure in simulation of a man or other animate object and comprising sheet material cut out in the silhouette of a body and front leg, a second member of sheet material cut out in the silhouette of a rearward leg hingedly connected at the upper end with said body, said rearward leg being of greater length than said front leg, a folding base of sheet material, hingedly connected with both legs, the lower end of said rearward longer leg being hingedly connected with the back of said folding base, the lower end of the front leg being hinged over the forward portion of said base and said hinging lines being disposed to automatically set up the figure on the base with the front leg stepped forward, the body inclined rearward and the back leg bracing the connected figure and base in such relation by simply hinging the legs so connected with the base to step the front leg out in advance of the back leg, said base having a hinge line disposed between the legs and the front leg being hinged to the base at a point nearer to said base hinge line than said back leg.

HENRY M. BUNDLE. 

